Page 25 - Demo

Special Advertising Section | Sunday, October 19, 2025 25!\Around 34 million Americans visited a hospital in 2023, according to the American Hospital Association. While your stint in a medical center is never going to be a joy, nurses have intel that can help it go more smoothly. I asked nurses who work in hospitals for tips to make your stay safer, easier and more comfortable.Call, don%u2019t fallFalls are %u201ca serious and common risk in hospitals,%u201d said Chantal Howard, the chief nursing officer at Duke University Hospital. They occur most frequently near the bedside or in the bathroom, according to one study. Don%u2019t hesitate to use your call button, said Brian Fasolka, a clinical assistant professor at the N.Y.U. Rory Meyers College of Nursing. %u201cWe want to assist you,%u201d he added. %u201cFalls are a nurse%u2019s worst nightmare.%u201dBring your own pillowWhen Amanda Peterson, a nurse practitioner in St. Paul, Minn., went to the hospital to have two babies, she packed her own pillow. Ask if you can do the same, she advised. %u201cI have seen too many unspeakable things happen to hospital pillows,%u201d Peterson said.Keep your health information in one placeHaving easy access to all your medical information is crucial for getting good care. Many hospitals have patient portals that you can consult on your computer or mobile device, said Kara Curry, a senior policy and ethics adviser at the American Nurses Association%u2019s Center for Ethics and Human Rights. You may be able to see lab and test results; communications among members of your health care team; and your medication. Make sure your basic info is up-to-date online, or bring paper records with you.Don%u2019t be afraid to ask questionsPatients can be unsure about their schedules, said Victoria Niederhauser, dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee. At the beginning of each day, she suggested, ask the nurse, %u201cCan you give me an idea of what my day is going to look like?%u201dPay attention to the discharge instructionsBe sure to go over the post-care instructions carefully, and ask as many questions as you need to, said Nan Ketcham, a clinical associate professor of nursing at Baylor University. Have a second person there, if possible, to go over the steps so that they%u2019re clear, she added. Or, if you%u2019re by yourself, you can ask to record the instructions with your phone, Niederhauser said. By Jancee DunnThe New York TimesTrouble Sleeping?Low Mood or Sore?Which Hemp Product Is Right for You?Take the 1-Minute Quiz & Get 3 Free GiftsScan to Take the Quiz+ Get 3 Free Gifts RareCannabinoidCo.comSee how hemp helps:CBN %u2014 For Better SleepCBC %u2014 For Brighter MoodCBG %u2014 For Stiff, Sore JointsTHe birth of theamerican supercar%u2013 A WORLD PREMIERE EXHIBITION %u2013GRAND OPENING %u2013 OCTOBER 25, 2025AMERICASCARMUSEUM.ORGLEMAY %u2013 AMERICA%u2019S CAR MUSEUM2702 E D ST. TACOMA, WAGRAND OP GRAND OPENING %u2013 OCTOBER 25, 2025